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Be The Best.

A November to Movember.

Huh?

Movember is a fund raising effort for the fight against and cure for prostate cancer.

the clean shave...nov 1.

It’s also a great way to get people involved and create a sense of brotherhood.  The basics are pretty basic.  You start the month of November by cleanly shaving your face.  Mine had a goatee for about 8 years we’re thinking.

Then you start growing your moustache.  You can use a variety of shapes, but the ‘sections’ can’t be joined…ie you can’t grow a beard.  I’m going for a moustache and soul patch look.  Here’s what it looks like tonight, 7 days in and last week, the day of the clean shave.

Given what my Dad is going through with colon cancer, I thought this was close enough.  In essence, his close shave and current fight with cancer and my Mom’s past close shaves and current battle with leukemia could certainly inspire a little close shave of my own.

nov 8

For a little fun and more info, check our team page as a bunch of great BCIT’ers are in on this.  Dave Pinton is our fearless captain and has even put together a video.  You can watch and vote here.

I will reveal a weekly moustache view as we approach the end of the month and the end of Movember…cause I know you would really appreciate that.  I know Ingrid does…(not)!

The other reason I am happy to be involved is the sense of brotherhood that occurs when a bunch of guys do stupid things together.  Yup, that’s what guys do.  My work gang has been incredibly gracious to me (and Ingrid) over the past 7 months and it’s great to simply be part of the crew.

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Be The Best.

y i can c clearly now…

Some letters i like a little more than others these days.

y.

don’t like that one.  it still comes around and you still have to deal with it.  ‘why’ did this happen.  why is chris gone. y.

i and c.  those ones i like a little better.  in fact ‘eye’ and ‘see’ are the perfect letters.

what i think about with those letters is chris’ beautiful eyes and how they are helping someone to see more clearly now.  we’ll never meet that person, but it’s a wonderful thing to know.

while looking for something else, i had stumbled across the little green ribbons and cards that they sent to us with the letter explaining how chris was giving the gift of sight to someone here in bc months back.

i and c.  like those.

y.  not so much.

as i’ve stated in a previous post, the ‘why’ questions can come and visit, but don’t invite them in for dinner or to stay too long.  nothing is gained there.  we continue to move forward step by step and decision by decision with chris’ passion helping to fuel our journey.  i know many of chris’ friends ask y and continue to be confused.  that’s totally ok.  that’s more than ok.  one of the most amazing things in life i think is getting comfortable with the fact that we can’t answer all the questions.  saying ‘i don’t know’ is ok for this test!  (no…this does not give you an excuse for not studying!)

i spoke to someone this week who had lost someone very dear and close to them a few years back.  the experiential advice was clear and simple.  it will get a little easier.  there may not be answers, but there will be new paths and a continued journey that has promise and hope.

y? don’t know.

i’s that c.  that i know….and it’s awesome.

www.transplant.ca

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Be The Best.

I don’t have time…

The best time to plant a tree is yesterday…the second best time is today.

I totally don’t have time to write this blog post, but I can’t go three days without posting!

I don’t know how many times in the past 7 months I have said to myself, I don’t have time to do these push-ups today.  Too rushed, too late, etc.  For the majority of the times I’ve thought that, the next step has been to get down on the floor and start pushing up!

In the time I could take to talk myself out of them, I’ve completed my 50 and I’m on my way.  I guess tonight’s blog is the same.  Crazy week, computer issues, etc.

Stop whining and start writing!

Yesterday was a very good day and a very bittersweet day.  We had a wonderful Big Info session at BCIT where 2900 people were on campus exploring their educational and career options.  A fantastic success.  The bittersweet part was seeing so many parents and their sons there.  Of course I thought of Chris 2900 times as I helped people with their questions.  I thought of his career path, goals and desires.  As it turned out, Max came down for the event and it was excellent to see him and have him exploring some longer term goals.  Very cool.

Happy.  Sad.  Good.  Bad.  Quite the recipe.

But in the end, the fulfillment of seeing the light go on with students is what makes this career so rewarding.  We will remind ourselves that Chris’ educational legacy at Simon Fraser University will help propel students to achieve their dreams every year starting this coming January…and that will go on forever.

I choose to end this discussion on that high note tonight!

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Be The Best.

Dancing Under the Gallows

This video is amazing.

AC sent it my way and I couldn’t stop watching it.

It features Alice, an amazing 106 year old survivor of the Holocaust.

The music is amazing.  The story is amazing.

Her words are incredibly powerful.

Do you hate?  No.  Hate only produces hate.

Alice, I learned a few things watch you.

I strongly urge you to invest the 12 minutes and watch this.

It will change you.

Click this link to get there.